"The influence of great books upon us is miraculous. They can make us into their own image, and you can judge a man more truly by the books…he reads than the company that he keeps." ~Sterling W. Sill
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
Ages 12-adult
When Ji-Li was a small girl in Shanghai, China, she believed that Chairman Mao and the Communist Party had saved China and that she was very lucky to live there. She was happy, smart, a star pupil admired by her teachers and fellow students. Her family was financially secure and had good standing. Then in 1966, when Ji-Li was 12 years old the Cultural Revolution began and her world began to crumble. It was interesting to read how the government began systematically restricting more and more freedoms and the devastating effect it had on the people. This book is written from the perspective of a child who grew up very quickly as she had to become the care taker of her family. Despite all that the author has been through, she still considers herself quite blessed. She says, "After surviving the Cultural Revolution, I find myself more sensitive to the beauty of the human spirit". Ji-Li faced her trials with courage. This book is a quick and interesting read.
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This sounds really good, I'm excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteI read this book and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteIt really gave you the feel of what it
was like in the cultural revolution.